Do you want to be polarized by race, or do you want this country to

[babylonsister]

rise above it?

If you think it can't happen, tell us.

If you think it's doable, as I do, share please.

[Kittycat]

1. Of course I do. Which is why I support Obama.

:)

[papau]

2. Same polarized thought works for Seniors and nonAA women over 40 - a fusion ticket is only way

[Kool Kitty]

4. What is a nonAA woman over 40?

As a woman of 55, I wonder if that applies to me. I'm serious, I have no idea what that means.

[boppers]

11. Are you an African American (AA)? eom

[Kool Kitty]

13. Oh, duh. I am slow tonight.

Thank you. I may be 55, but sometimes I think my brain is 75. No, I'm not AA.

[spag68]

15. AA

I'm AA, and have been since 79. Yet all the bullshit has made me think of the days when I drank myself numb Oh,you meant African American, according to my black friends I've that for much longer.

[maddiejoan]

3. Of course I do

That's why I support Hillary Clinton.

[Skip Intro]

5. Of course I do, that's why I would never support Obama.

[Saturday]

6. As soon as Obama quits playing the race card we surely can rise above it!!!nt

[AgadorSparticus]

7. I think Obama is the first candidate in a long time to bring so many people

from so many different demographics together, that he is scary for some people.

[EFerrari]

8. This country is polarized by race, whether we realize it in our daily lives or not.

What we can do is take steps toward reconciliation.

That's a painful, hard path but at least, it's a real one. It's the one our children deserve.

For his willingness to walk that walk alone, Obama deserves all the credit in the world.

I'd be careful about "rising above" a wound so profound. That usually has meant "rising above" social injustice and "rising above" material needs of real people.

Maybe it would be a better idea to try to sit with our situation. And to see what is there that needs attention.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. I'm Hoping, With Every Ounce Of Strength In Me, That It's Doable.

I hope to hell we can rise above it.

That's all I have the energy left within my exhausted body to say right now. I'm going to bed. k&r and peace

[blonndee]

10. Rise above it, of course. Obama can transcend race

as he has done, in the GE. Sad that race is an issue in the Democratic nom.

Really, it's a toss-up. Do Dems want to stand up for what they SAY they believe in? Or not?

[floridablue]

12. Here in DU it is made to sound like

If we do not support or vote for a black person just because he is on the ticket that we are some sort of evil racist.

Given the fact Senator has little or no experience and few qualifications for the office, that is a might scary scenario.

[TahitiNut]

14. We can never put the past behind us until what we did in the past, and why we did it, is truly past.

It takes facing up to our mistakes and exorcsing the inner demons of fear, ignorance, and greed to make it the past and not a present with the window-dressing of deniability.

There is much truth in what Rev. Wright said and CLEARLY some still-bleeding wounds in our neighbors and friends. We need to heal. There is no "they" in that.

[BluWtrLynn]

16. About 10 years ago....

I was living in Charlotte NC and stopped at a light on one of the main crosstown streets. A sporty new white Mercedes pulled-up alongside my car with two twenty-something African Americans in the front. My first random thought was "bet those are a couple or drug dealers". I realized next of course how prejudiced that reaction was. I say prejudiced, not racist, because my 15 year old daughter was sitting next to me. If I had made my observation out-loud to her, then I would be a racist.

I'm a 54 year old white working class guy. I cannot help my up-bringing. The "N" work was used pretty freely around my house when I was growing-up. My adult experiences living and working with, and for African Americans has taught me better. My deep seated prejudice though, learned at my daddy's knee, will probably be with me until the day I die. I CAN help what I say and what I do. The best thing I can do is to think before I speak and make sure my prejudice does not become contagious.

Sen. Obama's race is not a secret. Sen. Clinton's race is not a secret. There are people that harbor prejudice against Sen. Obama for his race in PA and elsewhere. There are people who favor Sen Obama for his race in MS and elsewhere. No secret! No need for debate! Race should not be an issue in this campaign, in America, in 2008. Every time we open our mouths on the subject, no matter how, valid our "observation" or objective our "position" we perpetuate prejudice and racism. This is not what the Democratic Party is about. The campaigns need to stop treating this as an issue. The leadership need to "put a sock in it". The folks here just need to shut their mouths. It's embarrassing...really.